What it costs to file in Louisiana
The court charges this when you hand in the claim. It is separate from the amount you are claiming.
Set by each court
This state does not set one statewide fee. The court where you file publishes its own.
More about Louisiana
Common questions
- What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Louisiana?
- Louisiana does not set one statewide fee. Each court publishes its own, so check the court where you will file.
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Louisiana?
- An individual can claim up to $5,000. A business can claim up to $5,000. A public agency can claim up to $5,000. That comes from La. R.S. 13:5202(A).
- Which court handles small claims in Louisiana?
- City Court Small Claims Division or Justice of the Peace Court. Louisiana has no single small claims court. In a city with a city court, the small claims division hears money claims up to $5,000; elsewhere the justice of the peace court for the ward where the other side lives hears claims up to the same amount.
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Louisiana?
- The shortest window is 1 year, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under La. Civ. Code art. 2534(A). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Louisiana's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2024-07-01.
- La. R.S. 13:5205(A) · effective 1987-09-01 · In a city court small claims division the statute sets a $35 filing cost for each defendant, plus up to $20 for extra service or subpoenas. Justice of the peace courts set their own costs, so ask the clerk for the exact amount.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.